My Favorite Muppets, Part 3: Richard Hunt

My my, where does the time go?  Let's see...where was I?

Oh yes, my favorite Muppets!  Today I wanted to look at Richard Hunt.  I've discussed this puppeteer at length in my posts on Scooter as well as the failed series Dragontime, but I never actually nailed down who his greatest characters were.

The important things to know about Hunt were that he was born to be a puppeteer.  He never truly felt as free or as outgoing as he did when there was a puppet attached to his arm.  Through his characters, he showed his childlike wonder, his boundless energy, and his array of funny voices.  He loved to help others.  He was often found performing as the extra arm for a live-hand puppet, meaning he'd be right up alongside Henson, Oz, or Nelson as they performed their iconic roles.

But most importantly, he loved to make people laugh.  He was the puppeteer who would most likely entertain guests by grabbing a random puppet and putting on an improvised performance.  These fun-loving elements bled into his characters, and it's a shame that soon after Henson passed away, Hunt followed.  While he may be gone, he is not forgotten.

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10) Belmont - The Christmas Toy

I always try to include one Muppet based on a pure-design aesthetic and to me, none of them are cooler than Belmont the rolling horse.  (Even the builder Ed Christie chose Belmont as his greatest creation in 22 years of work back in 2000.)  Hunt plays him as more of a dim-witted character who is at once easily-excitable and slow-talking, creating a strange speaking pattern.

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9) Gunge - Fraggle Rock

While Hunt is better known for his turn as Junior Gorg in Fraggle Rock, there is another childish ogre character of his that I prefer more.  So instead, I chose Gunge as the representative from this show.  Along with Philo, the two rat-like creatures serve as right-hand-men to Majory the Trash Heap.  Like Hunt, Gunge is the more naive and energetic of the two creatures.  Hunt tends to find himself playing the "child" character to a more mature counterpart, possibly due to his youth when he joined the Muppet repertoire.  (Of the main five original puppeteers, he was the youngest.)

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8) Don Music - Sesame Street

Before I began this blog, I had no idea who Don Music was.  He was cycled out of the show by the time I had started watching it regularly in the early '90s, allegedly due to the bad influence he had on children (namely, banging your head on hard objects when things don't go your way).  Maybe that's true and maybe it was a good thing to remove him from impressionable eyes, but hey, Hunt was an artist.  And artists get frustrated.  And sometimes they need to release that frustration in destructive ways.  Every Muppet puppeteer used their characters to unleash the feelings that they couldn't reveal in public, and Don Music only provided a cushy felt medium that also produced a funny sound whenever Hunt got upset.  If you can't use a puppet to slam against a piano, what can you do?

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7) Right Head of the Two-Headed Monster - Sesame Street

Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson were quite the dynamic duo.  They portrayed many live-hand puppets and puppet pairs together so it was only a matter of time before those were combined into a single puppet with two heads.  The Right Head (named "Stein" according to some sources) always seemed to be the more light-hearted and bouncy of the two heads, fitting with Hunt's childlike wonder.  He was the brother who was more likely to get his ego hurt and his confidence shattered.  Hunt enjoyed playing vulnerable characters, and he especially enjoyed playing off other characters, and the wide-eyed Right Head allowed him to do both.

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6) Janice - The Muppet Show

Okay, so Hunt has some very impressive voices in his arsenal, but I always felt his choice for Janice was out of place.  It sounded too much like a more masculine Scooter, which isn't quite the persona that Janice was aiming to capture.  That being said, Janice has an impressive wit.  While based on the valley girl stereotype, she is not a ditz.  She holds her own during the "Veterinarian's Hospital" sketches and she really shines with her ad-libs during the Muppet movies.  Hers is a character I would have liked to see more from outside of the hospital and Electric Mayhem appearances.

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5) Placido Flamingo - Sesame Street

Placido Flamingo is just another Sesame Street pun Muppet.  But that bird can sing with the best of them.  It seems as if all of Hunt's Sesame Street characters had a musicality to them (Don Music, Gladys the Cow, even the mute construction worker Sully could play the piano).  But Hunt really showed off his impressive vocal abilities when performing operatic parodies that taught children how to use the phone.

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4) Scooter - The Muppet Show

Oh wait, I forgot.  No one cares about Scooter.

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3) Beaker - The Muppet Show

I'm a bit of a Muppet hipster, so when it comes to extremely popular Muppets, my knee-jerk reaction is to say, "Yeah, he's funny but he's no Link Hogthrob."  So, I'm always trying to come up with ways as to why Beaker is just a one-note Muppet, unworthy of fame.  But, that one note ("Meep") is such a hilarious one that I can't justify my scorn.  Beaker is quite similar to the character Mr. Bill, in that they both suffer with their falsetto screams.  Even as a child, I was instantly drawn to Beaker because he is such a simple character to grasp, and his lack of a consistent language makes him relatable to everyone, regardless of age or ethnicity.  This was one of Hunt's "fun" characters, and it shows.

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2) Sweetums - The Muppet Show

Although he didn't portray him in his first appearance in The Frog Prince, Hunt made Sweetums his own, allowing the giant's heart and excitement to become a central aspect of his character.  (The first Sweetums was a lot meaner initially).  It's clear that Hunt enjoyed playing around in the puppet, as can be seen in behind the scenes photos and footage.  For the first time, Hunt could really get lost inside of a puppet.

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1) Mudwell the Mudbunny - Fraggle Rock

I know it seems blasphemous to place a one-shot Fraggle Rock character above all of Richard Hunt's iconic characters, but Mudwell was a truly special creature.  His personality, his mannerisms, and even his voice were unlike any character Hunt had portrayed before.  Hunt usually tries to find the humor in every scene he is in, filling in the role as resident clown when needed.  But, due to the story line of his signature episode, Mudwell is a more serious and introspective creature.  It's hard to discuss Mudwell without spoiling the storyline of his episode, but it's kind of obvious what's going to happen when his only episode is titled, "Gone, But Not Forgotten."

After getting injured in the deep caves of Fraggle Rock, Wembley is rescued by Mudwell.  Although Mudwell is more mature than Wembley, they still quickly bond over fun games and songs and food.  However, after his injuries heal, Mudwell rudely kicks Wembley out of his home, and tells him never to return.  Upset, Wembley returns to confront Mudwell for his rude behavior and learns that a Mudbunny's life is very short.  Mudwell passes away in front of him, crushing Wembley's spirit.

Yes, Mudwell is the center of an episode teaching the Fraggles (and the young viewers at home) all about death, and having someone taken away from you so suddenly.  Much like Hunt, Mudwell provided as much joy as he could in his short time on Earth.  This episode would have been production right as Hunt became diagnosed with HIV, so it isn't too far of a leap to conclude that this storyline was influenced by the sad news.

Richard Hunt passed away five years after this episode aired, and while he may be remembered for his more wacky characters, this "farewell" will always represent Hunt's softer side.  However, there was one thing I left out of my episode synopsis.  After Mudwell literally turns to dirt and dust, a new creature is born from his remains.  A young Mudbunny who, while different, retains some of Mudwell's memories and philosophies.

Hunt also plays Mudwell's reincarnated form and establishes that while his body may leave, his spirit may live on.  Whether it be through a metaphysical means or just through memories of the past, he will never truly be gone.  I almost interpret this reincarnation as Hunt's acknowledgement that he is survived by his characters.

While characters like Scooter were momentarily retired after Hunt's passing, the Muppets have the gift of immortality.  Scooter will return, Sweetums will return, Beaker will never go away.  Hunt left a myriad of gifts filled with life and energy that allows us to always remember him.  And that's why I appreciate Mudwell as much as I do.  He was real.  As real as the man who loved to play pretend.

What Is Love?

We tend to overcomplicate things.  The curse of our complex brains has resulted in years of analysis, creation, destruction, and boomboxes held over heads all for this tricky concept known as love.

We've said all there is to be said about it.  Yet we can't stop talking about it.  Perhaps it's because, whether we're happy, sad, in it or out of it, we love to talk about love.

Again?

Of all the philosophies out there on love, Ernie and Bert seem to have gotten it correct.  If you ask Ernie what love is, he'll tell you that it's being able to tolerate the negative qualities in another individual.

Love and all its aspects can be the most frustrating concept in the world.  Maybe you're in love and you don't know how to say it or you don't know how to find a balance or you can't meet the needs of your significant other.  Or maybe you're not in love and you want to be or you want to avoid it entirely.  It's strange that the frustration that develops out of this biological concept doesn't surface among our other biological needs.

"I've never been hungry.  I just haven't found the right sandwich yet."

"I could spend an eternity drinking this glass of water!"

"Sleep is just a scam concocted to sell greeting cards."

When it comes time to teach children about love, Bert opts for a different route.  Unlike Ernie, who revels in the bond between him and his friend, Bert bluntly states the obvious, with his song, "That's Love."

Does love deserve all the attention that it receives?  Who's to say?  It is what it is.  Stop worrying about it and enjoy it.  Love what and who you want to love.  If someone loves you, let them love you.  If two people are in love, let them be in love.  Love is nice.  When did it become so complicated?

As we get older, we want to believe that there is a deeper meaning behind everything.  Simplicity is for children.  Complexity for adults.  Just compare Sesame Street's approach to love with that of The Muppet Show.

Is this version better or worse?  Do they even need to be compared at all?

Pictured:  Love.

No one is going to answer this question in a satisfactory matter.  Love is the one element of life that everyone perceives as being unique to themselves and we like it that way.  We can look up jealousy, anger, fear and any other emotion in the dictionary and come to a general consensus on the definition.

But not love.  Never love.  And that's why, year after year, we celebrate it and let it take over our lives.  It's all we can do.

Accept that this is never going away.

Halloweird

Halloween is nearly upon us!  For Henson and his crew, Halloween seems like the perfect holiday.  It's the day to let your imagination run wild, have fun, and most importantly, be different.  Last year, we took a look at Vincent Price's appearance on The Muppet Show, but for a truly spooky experience, look no further than "Episode 307: Alice Cooper."

It's a graveyard smash!

Alice Cooper was famous for his offbeat persona that he used to separate himself from his rock and roll contemporaries.  His performances were very reminiscent of horror movies, bringing in violent props and creepy monsters.  So of course, Alice brings along his own crew of Muppet monsters known as "The Vile Bunch."

Appearing for one night only!

Alice and his monsters set the mood for the show, resulting in a lot of "scary" and supernatural moments that leave everyone on edge.  He even offers to arrange a meeting with Kermit to sell his soul to the devil for fame and glory.

Just sign the contract.

But behind the black makeup and demonic associations, Alice Cooper is just a regular nice guy.  Despite the horror theme of the episode, the characters are never truly in danger.  At one point, Sam the Eagle confronts Alice, decrying his freakish ways, and Alice of course takes it all as a warm compliment.

Can't a guy just put on his eye shadow in peace?

See, Alice knows that he is being weird and he celebrates it.  And what are the Muppets, if not an endorsement for embracing your weird side?  With the creepy musical numbers, the Muppets are still able to show their softer side, like when Robin sings "Over the Rainbow."  But it's just as much fun letting loose and not worrying about looking strange.

In fact, one sketch is quite similar to Henson's earlier experimental films.  A stalactite complains about a toothache while the rest of the cavern echos his thoughts.  It is bizarre and introspective about the nature of thoughts and it becomes a repetitive cycle by the end as it seems the pain will never truly go away.

I didn't even know that rocks had teeth.

This is just a brief overview of the episode because I feel that this is best experienced as an entire entity.  It is one of the best episodes due to its more-surreal-than-average nature and it's willingness to not be constrained by society's limitations.

If you are looking for some great Muppety Halloween entertainment this year, look no further than the Alice Cooper episode of The Muppet Show.

It's a scream!

Random Muppet #19: Gorgon Heap

On the Muppet Wiki, there is a "Random Muppet" button which sends you to the page of one of the thousands of Muppets in existence. I will press the button and discuss the importance of the Muppet that comes up, no matter how obscure. No skips. No redos. This is the Random Muppet Challenge.

Random Muppet #19: Gorgon Heap

The monster that ate everybody.

Performer:  Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Golez, and Richard Hunt at various points

Muppet Universe of Origin:  The Muppet Show

Most Significant Appearance:  The Muppet Show, January 29, 1977, "Episode 119: Vincent Price"

Gluttonous monsters are no strangers to the world of the Muppets.  So, when Vincent Price brings in his two guests for a panel discussion on gourmet eating, it is clear from the start how the event is going to go down.

One of these guys is going to be dinner.

As the world's greatest chef Pierre LaCousse argues with Price about the world's greatest dish, the world's greatest eater Gorgon Heap slowly devours everything insight.  His glass, his silverware, his dish, his fellow guest Pierre, and finally the host, Kermit the Frog.  As Kermit begs for help, Price reminds him that Mr. Heap has an excellent taste in cuisine and prepares to join him.

Why is He the Most Important Muppet?

Gorgon was not a person.  Gorgon was not a monster.  Gorgon was not a "Chaos Muppet".

He was a representation of The Muppet Show's nihilism.

He was also a chorus girl.

Nihilism is not merely the belief that the world is pointless and morality is null and void.  It is the acceptance that the universe exists in this fashion.  Gorgon Heap was not nihilistic. He was merely hungry.  But his role served to support the nihilism of others.

Take his very first starring role in "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Clues."

As Sherlock Rowlf is called in to investigate a murder, all signs point to the butler Gorgon as the culprit.  He claims his innocence and when Rowlf uncovers piece after piece of damning evidence, Gorgon swallows them up.

Even Miss Piggy, the maid who saw the crime, is quickly disposed of.

Rowlf accepts Gorgon's illegal tampering of the evidence and decides to arrest his partner Watson for the crimes...until Watson disappears.  Then it is decided that no crime ever even existed and everyone can go home.

This forced ignorance to the obstruction of laws and morals follows Gorgon wherever he goes.  His appearance may change, but his rationale remains the same.  And nobody on the show minds.  He eats Pierre?  Okay, that's fine.  Wayne is gulped down?  Doesn't bother us.  Miss Piggy too?  Ehh, she could get annoying at times.  Our beloved host Kermit the Frog?  Well, everyone's gotta go at some point.

Gorgon is the mirror that we must holdup to society.  Our natural ability to turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the world while be our inevitable downfall.  If we aren't safe, all those we care about can disappear in an instant.  It is not the monster we should fear.  It is ourselves.

I mean, with Kermit the Frog gone, who are we going to turn to to lead us...Lenny the Lizard?

It's a never-ending cycle.

Random Muppet #18: Avocado

On the Muppet Wiki, there is a "Random Muppet" button which sends you to the page of one of the thousands of Muppets in existence. I will press the button and discuss the importance of the Muppet that comes up, no matter how obscure. No skips. No redos. This is the Random Muppet Challenge.

Random Muppet #18: Avocado

An unemployed critic of low art.

Performer:  Dave Golez

Muppet Universe of Origin:  The Muppet Show

Most Significant Appearance:  The Muppet Show, November 11, 1978, "Episode 305: Pearl Bailey"

While Waldorf and Statler usually assume the duties of being The Muppet Show's harshest critics, they cannot always complete the job on their own.  One day, Statler invites his friend, a sunglasses-totting avocado, to the show.  How Statler met the avocado is never explained, and after Waldorf's brief puzzlement, he grows to accept the presence of the talking fruit.

The avocado is introduced after the opening number in which guest star Pearl Bailey sings "My Soul is a Witness."  It's a nice, respectful number that the old men can't really find anything to complain about. Statler suggests they ask the avocado and he responds positively.  Apparently he's a huge Pearl Bailey fan.

Well, she is a good actress and singer, I suppose.

While the audience is trying to wrap their head around why an avocado was consulted at all, the show continues without him.  Was "Let's ask the avocado!" some sort of pun?  He's missing the next time we visit the balcony, but he returns two more times in the episode.  The first time, Waldorf asks if he's a professional critic, to which the fruit responds that he's unemployed.  Waldorf then suggests that he should try to get into something decent...guacamole!

At the end of the show, the avocado gives his final review of the show.  "It was the pits!"

So...an avocado character was introduced basically to make two avocado-related puns?  That's a far stretch to go for those jokes.  Couldn't they have found some other food-related sketch to fit him into?

It shall remain forever a mystery.

Why is He the Most Important Muppet?

The Muppet Show is no stranger to featuring talking food.  What makes the avocado so special?  Why isn't he featured alongside his edible brethren?

Well, have you ever really stopped to consider the avocado?

Now's your chance!

The avocado is an anomaly of the fruit world.  It is technically a big berry, although it's odd texture and lack of a sweet flavor may convince one otherwise.  In some parts of the world, it is known as a "butter fruit" due to the consistency of the innards.  It has a high fat content, making it a perfect part of a vegetarian diet (or a substitute for meat in areas where meat and other fatty foods are scarce).  Despite this, some culinary artists and cultures do try to include it in sweeter dishes for dessert such as milkshakes, smoothies, and ice cream, infusing a subtle avocado flavor in with the sugary syrup.

But perhaps the most bizarre aspect of the avocado is it's single giant seed.  Out of all fruits, the avocado seed is the third largest, following closely behind the mango and the coconut (which is itself served as just the seed).  The avocado seed is toxic to ingest, but it's so large that no one will be swallowing it anytime soon.

According to the evolutionary biologist Daniel H. Janzen, the avocado is an "evolutionary anachronism" meaning it basically grew up during the wrong time-period.  It's earliest appearance dates back to about 10,000 B.C. which is about 1,000 years short of the 2.5 million year long Pleistocene Epoch where it should have thrived.  This was the time that humans as we know them took form, but giant animals were still common place.  Only these larger creatures could have ingested avocados whole and spread avocado trees with their droppings serving as a natural fertilizer.  The fleshy nature of the fruit suggests that this is the best evolutionary method for seed dispersal, as it would protect both the seed and the animal who swallowed it from harming each other.

And yet, the avocado survives to this day and has made it's way onto The Muppet Show.

And it wears sunglasses indoors for some reason.

The avocado is a fragile creature.  One wrong move and it could end up in a dip.  Life is difficlut for the lowly plant.  So what does it devote it's life to?  What is the only thing it is capable of doing?  Observing art and critiquing it.  The avocado wants to contribute to the world, but it lacks the ability to do anything.  The best it can provide is it's opinion so that others may benefit from his wisdom.  He is a young avocado, and still has a ways to go.  He can only say, "It's the pits!" so many times before the shtick gets old.  But the avocado presses on.  It perseveres.  And the plant that no one thought could last in this world gains immortality.

In action figure form, of course.

Everyone's a critic.  Analyzing the crafts of others keeps us entertained, focused, and sane.  It gives us life.  It reminds us that everyone can contribute to this world, in some way or another.

Random Muppet #16: Trumpet Girl

On the Muppet Wiki, there is a "Random Muppet" button which sends you to the page of one of the thousands of Muppets in existence. I will press the button and discuss the importance of the Muppet that comes up, no matter how obscure. No skips. No redos. This is the Random Muppet Challenge.

Random Muppet #16: Trumpet Girl

An omnipresent, silent, trumpet-playing Muppet.

Performer:  Various but Eren Ozker for her one speaking role

Muppet Universe of Origin:  The Muppet Show

Most Significant Appearance:  The Muppet Show, May 7, 1977, "Episode 123: Kaye Ballard"

The Muppet Orchestra was present for every episode of The Muppet Show because, in addition to providing backup for musical numbers, they played the opening and closing themes of the show.  The orchestra members were such a staple of the show that they blended into the background and rarely warranted much attention.  Of course, this was fine, since the orchestra was mostly comprised of Muppet regulars.

While you may have assumed that the orchestra was simply the Electric Mayhem (which is understandable since there is a lot of overlap), the musicians were actually more varied.  The orchestra was comprised of:

- Nigel the conductor

- Floyd, on bass

- Zoot, on saxophone

- Animal, on drums

- Rowlf, on piano

- Crazy Harry, occasionally on triangle

- and Trumpet Girl, on trumpet.

Who?

Yes, Trumpet Girl was the only musician who did not have a life outside of the orchestra pit.  Sure, she would appear in group numbers as a singer or dancer, but she was never even given a proper name.  She was a part of the Orchestra first and foremost.  Therefore, her most significant appearance was in the only episode that focused on the inner workings of the orchestra.

Apparently, Floyd is tired of playing the same, old lame Muppet Show theme, noting that it is a square song written by a square...Nigel the conductor.  Yeah, apparently lowly Nigel penned that classic tune.

Who'da thunk?

Fed up with not being able to play his own theme song, Floyd riles up the rest of the orchestra and tries to convince Kermit to change the tune.  It is during this moment that Trumpet Girl utters her only line, expressing her opinion of the current theme song: "Drag City."  Floyd and the gang write a new tune to open the show called "Fugue for Frog."  It is a haphazard jazzy mess of a song and Kermit refuses to use it as the replacement.

Huh! The! Mup! Pet! Show!

During the closing credits, only Nigel and Rowlf are present to play the closing theme, resulting in a very sparse little number.  Apparently, the rest of the orchestra has refused to return (but we can tell from every other episode that they eventually came back).

Play, hound!

And that's all we really know about Trumpet Girl.

Why is She the Most Important Muppet?

Who is the Trumpet Girl?  Why wasn't Janice used in her place?  What exactly is her purpose in the Muppet Show universe?

One might think we should just write her off.  Clearly she is just a background stand-in puppet with no characteristics or personalities.  No one else cares about her.  It's not like she was important enough to appear in the recent Muppets movie.

Oh, wait.

Yeah.  There she is.  They brought her back for this little cameo.  Apparently she was puppeteered by Rashida Jones who dubbed her "Dolores" since she lacked a name.  However, this remains to be made official.

So why go through the trouble of including her character at all?

Well, consider the role of a pit orchestra.  These are orchestras that usually accompany musicals or ballets or operas or a variety of other forms of live-performance.  In each of these cases, the orchestra is not the main attraction.  Sure, they can be wonderfully talented, but rarely do people go to see a musical for a chance to see the orchestra perform.

The pit orchestra musicians are there to provide support through their music.  They are often tucked away, out of the line of sight.  Some are even hidden completely in a room beneath the stage.  They are meant to be heard, not seen.

Trumpet Girl represents this noble profession of nameless artists.  She reminds us that in life, everyone has a part to play.  Without her, the band will fall apart.  A crucial sound will be missing from the group.  "The Muppet Show Theme Song" would sound completely different without Trumpet Girl's presence.  She is a significant member of the group and she absolutely cannot be replaced...

What's that?  You say she was replaced?

Oh, now Lips is the trumpet player?

Oh.

So...

Who is Trombone Girl and why is she the most important Muppet?

Random Muppet #16: Trombone Girl

Ah, nevermind...

This Show is Out of Control!

Where to begin with Muppets Tonight?

This show exists on a fine line between "too familiar" and "radically different to what had come before it."  There are so many new characters, sketches, and stylistic choices that to call it an extension of The Muppet Show feels wrong.  The show both fails and succeeds at what it's trying to do, and I just cannot wrap my head around it.

There are some terrible episodes and there are some great episodes.  Almost every single element of this show can be dissected and it will take me weeks to say everything I want to say.

So I have to pick one thing.  One thing that represents this show in a nutshell so that I can at least build a foundation from which you can understand where the rest of this show is coming from.

And here is that thing.

Even if you watched the show back during 1996, you probably only vaguely remember this character.  This fellow is Nigel (not to be confused with that other Nigel, although I'm sure this was an intentional allusion).  He was the stage director in the control room of the KMUP television station.

And he was bipolar.

He would switch from calm and collected to frantic and flailing at the drop of a hat (or a cow).  Usually, when something went wrong, he'd be the one yelling for people to fix it.  This happened often.  One of the biggest differences between Muppets Tonight and The Muppet Show was that the onstage portions were rarely seen in full in this new version.  Often the focus was backstage and the performing acts were secondary to everything else.  The only sketches that weren't interrupted were pre-recorded recurring affairs, similar to "Pigs in Space" or "Veterinarian's Hospital."

And every time we left the stage, Nigel would be in the background, subdued or about to kill somebody.

This picture is inaccurate.  Nigel should be a complete blur.

The theme song to Muppets Tonight was our first indication that things were going to be different.  Watch, and count how many Muppet Show Muppets appear.

This show was "guaranteed brand new," literally.  Nearly every puppet that paraded through that number was an original creation for the show.  So why does this still feel like a "Muppet" show?

Well, as we know, Jim Henson was preparing the next version of The Muppet Show, so it's not as if this were just a product capitalizing on his name.  In fact, it was his son Brian Henson who created and led the whole production of this show.  He was the main director and he wanted to ensure his father's legacy lived on.

Brian Henson and the main cast.  And Miss Piggy and Kermit, the supporting cast.

Henson oversaw the next wave of Muppets.  A series of new and old puppeteers would use new characters to explore different stories than the kind featured before.  We still had the theme of trying and failing to put on a show, it was just with a younger generation of characters.  Kermit and Piggy were the alumni, here to usher in the new class (in fact, 50% of their jokes had to do with their increasing ages).

And yet they were used in all the promotional material.

We shall cover the new characters later (as most of them became accepted members of the Muppet universe), but for now, it is important to remember that for any failings this show had, it at least tried to be it's own thing, even though it had to please the audience who wanted more of the classic Muppet bits.  Brian Henson was doing his best, and it was surely a stressful position to follow in his father's legendary footsteps.

Oh, and did I mention that Brian Henson played Nigel the director?

It all makes so much sense now!

Muppets Tonight was doomed from the start.  It had to recreate the original's aesthetic while also standing on its own merits.  The show did it's best when it committed to one path (either being wholly original or wholly referential), and it suffered when it tried to blend those two concepts.

This show was bipolar.  But that just makes it all the more interesting.

Face the Consequences

Life is full of decisions.  Any choice can permanently change your future, so it is best to choose carefully and wisely, especially when the matters of body modification are concerned.  Tattoos, piercings, and plastic surgery should not be purchased frivolously.  You must search within yourself and decide that you truly want this new look, before making a monetary and physical commitment.

Or you could just use the Vendaface and not have to think about it at all.

What an odd looking jukebox.

The birth of the Vendaface seems just like the conception of many regretful tattoos that are discovered after a hard night of partying.  At one point someone said, "Wouldn't it be a great idea if.." and then you immediately agreed, "Yeah, totally!" before stopping to consider what this new addition would entail.  So during the night, this product is constructed and you admire it and have a good laugh.

"Wouldn't it be a great idea if there were a vending machine that could dispense body parts to alter the faces of our Whatnot Muppets?"  "Yeah, totally!"

And then a couple hours pass and you realize you're stuck with this thing forever.

Like the Talking Houses or Sesame Street's Sam the Robot, the Vendaface machine was far too complex a puppet to only be used for one 3 minute sketch.  Except, there was only one joke and it had already been told as best as it could have been.  But, in order to warrant the time and money spent creating this monstrosity, the Vendaface machine had to be carted out for a couple more episodes during the first season.  But it was clear that no one was exactly sure what to do with it.

The next person to use the machine was Fozzie Bear, only this time the Vendaface machine presented itself as a sort of mechanical fortune teller or psychiatrist.  And the only joke was that it kept tricking Fozzie into feeding it more coins.

What does any of this have to do with faces?  Nothing.

Later, Statler gave the machine a go.  This time, the writer's discovered another use for the machine.  Well, it was the same use as before, but it was executed in a different manner.  Rather than pick off body parts and replace them with others, the machine would just clock Statler in the jaw.

I think Richard Hunt just enjoyed making Statler do this face.

With three appearances down, the Vendaface machine was set to retire.  That was a lot of effort for three measly jokes.  But at least it was put out of its misery right?  Well, for some reason, they dragged it out again one more time a couple of seasons later.  Only this time, it was called the "Vendawish."

The name plate was replaced with a happy sunshine!

Okay, so now the machine can be used for all sorts of sketches, right? People can wish for anything! The only limit is the imagination! This machine might just yet turn a profit!

Or, they could use it again for one more body modification joke.

Someone just had to tell the story of a man who wished to be taller and got his neck stretched out by the Vendaface/wish machine.  It was a story the world needed to see, apparently.  Don't worry, the man wasn't permanently scarred.  He had a trustworthy Muppet doctor fix his predicament.

Um...where are your credentials?

And thus, the Vendaface saga was over.  What was originally intended to be a scathing commentary on our appearance-obsessed lifestyle that focused on unnecessary, expensive reconstructions ended up itself being an unnecessary, expensive reconstruction.  It's almost poetic.

 At least one customer was left satisfied.